Kirby Smart: “Jacob Eason is our starter”

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Kirby Smart: “Jacob Eason is our starter”

Jacob Eason scans the field during Georgia's 2017 G-Day spring game
Jacob Eason scans the field during Georgia’s 2017 G-Day spring game

 
 
Has Kirby Smart and the Georgia coaching staff already decided that Jacob Eason will be the starter at quarterback for the Bulldogs before fall camp even starts?

 
Coach Smart fielded questions from the media on Tuesday on the second day of SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama and this was his response on the Bulldogs’ quarterback competition.
 
 
“Jacob Eason is our starter going into the season. Jake Fromm’s got to do something to beat him out,” Smart said. “Very similar to a lot of positions. You’ve got to beat them out. But we’re very excited about both of them. Including Brice (Ramsey), we have three talented players.”
 
 

Jacob Eason learning the Heisman pose
Jacob Eason learning the Heisman pose

 
 
Eason had one of the best seasons for a true freshman quarterback at the University of Georgia last year, completing 204 out of 307 pass attempts for 2,430 yards and 16 touchdowns to just 8 interceptions. Coach Smart did say that Eason needs to improve on his completion percentage to help change the win-loss record.
 
 
“I am a big believer in completion percentage,” Smart said. “And I think Jacob understands, and we’ve communicated throughout the spring, if he wants to change the win-loss record, we’ve got to change the completion percentage. We’ve got to allow him to make some easier throws and he has to got be more accurate doing so.”
 
 
And it appears that Eason has shown the coaches enough this offseason through spring practice and the summer workouts that Kirby feels confident in naming Eason as the starter going into the season.
 
 
“I’m really excited about Jacob Eason’s growth,” Smart said. “To watch him over the spring, the confidence he played in the system with, his ability to throw the ball and understand where pressure’s coming from, he’s grown tremendously. I think Coach (Jim) Chaney has done a great job with him in this offseason, making him realize his weaknesses and continue to work on those.”
 
 

Jacob Eason (10) and Jake Fromm (11)
Jacob Eason (10) and Jake Fromm (11)

 
 
While it is no surprise that Jacob Eason is the starter going into the season, having started 12 games and playing in 13 notched in his belt from 2016, Coach Smart did make a point that there is nobody locked in and spoke on early enrollee and freshman Jake Fromm being a competitor and leader.
 
 
“Just like every position on our team, kicker, punter, corner, right corner, left corner, it does not matter what position, every coach will tell you that there is a great competition,” Smart said. “If you’ve got a returning starter, he certainly has a head start. But with Jake Fromm coming in, he’s done a good job this spring picking up the offense. He’ll continue to grow, develop in the offense. He’s a really good leader, and we expect him to come in and compete hard.”
 
 


 
 

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The University of Georgia 1991-1994. Lanier Tech 2009-2012. Writer and graphic artist covering UGA athletics, college football, and recruiting. Peach cobbler fears me!